Ready To Drink Podcast

Send us Fan MailShauna Barnes is the founding partner of Barnes Beverage Group, a full-service national law firm built exclusively for the beverage industry. She started in craft beer, built the legal department at Dogfish Head during its fastest growth years, and now runs a 15-person firm alongside her husband Brandon helping brands navigate formation, distribution agreements, labeling, trademarks, and the current hemp regulatory storm.In this episode, Shauna and Nate get into what it actually costs to go national,  regional or statewide (more than you think), why landing a distributor is the beginning not the end, what brands need to do right now to survive the federal hemp ban, and the lessons Dogfish Head taught them both about building something with soul.They also talk about the craft beer shakeout happening in across the country, the vultures in the beverage space, why beverage ain't it if you want a cushy paycheck, and what it means to be a lawyer who tells you the truth even when it costs her the billable hour.Shauna's firm: DrinksLaw.com Find her on LinkedIn: Shauna BarnesFollow Ready To Drink Podcast: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | ReadyToDrinkPodcast.comReady To Drink Podcast is hosted by Nate Fochtman, founder of The FreeMind Group, a strategic advisory firm serving beverage brands since 2008.Support the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Send us Fan MailBen Zumsteg is the founder and CEO of Disco Fizz, a sparkling functional non-alcoholic beverage built for the dance floor. A first-time CPG founder with 15 years of brand strategy experience behind him - working with clients like L'Oreal, Ralph Lauren and Four Seasons - Ben stopped drinking on New Year's Day 2023 and spotted a gap nobody was filling: the LGBTQ+ community had nowhere to turn in its own spaces when it came to non-alc options worth actually ordering.In this episode, Ben walks through how he commissioned original quantitative research on LGBTQ+ drinking habits (the only study of its kind), how that data pointed him toward moderate-caffeine functional energy rather than a mocktail and why he named the brand Disco Fizz on purpose - "inherently queer, never exclusively". Nate and Ben also dig into brand distinctiveness, the "slap a rainbow on it and leave after Pride" problem, tiered caffeine formulation strategy, the premium packaging decision to go matte black with bare aluminum and why being for someone means you have to be okay with repelling someone else.Ben is pitching at BevNet Live and recently landed a spot in Paris Hilton's Pride Shopping Guide. Disco Fizz is currently rolling out on premise in New York City with DTC and retail to follow later in 2026.Find Disco Fizz: discofizz.com | Instagram: @drinkdiscofizzFollow Ready To Drink Podcast: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | ReadyToDrinkPodcast.comSupport the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Send us Fan MailNate Fochtman sits down with Madicyn Marinaro, Executive Director and Principal Researcher of the Cannabis Council for Advertising Transparency (CCAT), for a raw and unscripted conversation on one of the most underreported forces shaping the cannabis and hemp beverage industry: structural disinformation.Madicyn breaks down how Reefer Madness-era propaganda built the algorithmic and institutional bias that still governs platform policies, banking decisions, and financial risk models today. She quantifies what she calls the Disinformation Tax, documenting that cannabis companies pay nearly five times more in advertising costs than mainstream businesses, and explains how narrative control through advertising scarcity concentrates power in the hands of large operators and MSOs while freezing out legacy growers, independent brands, and single-person operators.The conversation covers the cannabis lobby vs. hemp lobby battle and why that conflict makes zero market sense unless you follow the money, the parallels between craft beer's battle against the big three in 2008 to 2012 and what hemp beverage entrepreneurs are facing today, why hemp and cannabis ultimately compete with oil and textiles rather than just alcohol and tobacco, how banks are creating the very risk they claim justifies refusing to serve compliant cannabis businesses, why 75 percent of cannabis research funding targets risks rather than benefits and what that does to the public information environment, and the independent retailer data gap hiding the true size and health of the hemp beverage category.Nate also shares the Pennsylvania primary research survey project currently underway, a 500 to 1,000 response statewide calling operation targeting independent retailers to capture real ground-level data on hemp beverage adoption and barriers.Both guests share personal stories of opioid addiction and how cannabis and hemp beverages played a direct role in their recovery.Ready To Drink Podcast covers the emerging adult beverage categories, hemp-derived THC, functional RTDs, and the entrepreneurs, operators, and advocates building the next great American beverage category.Subscribe and follow for new episodes weekly.Follow Madicyn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madicynmarinaro/Ready To Drink Podcast is hosted by Nate Fochtman, founder of The FreeMind Group, a strategic advisory firm serving adult beverage brands since 2008.Follow Ready To Drink Podcast: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | ReadyToDrinkPodcast.com#1 on Spotify for RTD Market Growth & Beverage Founders#1 on Apple Podcasts for Hemp Infusion #4 on YouTube for Functional DrinksSupport the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Send us Fan MailMadicyn Marinaro, Executive Director and Principal Researcher at the Cannabis Council for Advertising Transparency (CCAT), breaks down one of the most overlooked structural problems in cannabis policy: the research funding gap.Nearly 75% of $1 billion in cannabis research funding goes toward studying harm, not benefit and when benefit research is attempted, federal law restricts it to isolated cannabinoids - not whole plant cannabis. The result is a biased information environment where patient stories, positive outcomes and counter-narratives cannot scale.This is not an accident. This is structural disinformation.Full episode with Madicyn Marinaro drops soon on Ready To Drink Podcast!Subscribe so you do not miss it.Ready To Drink Podcast is hosted by Nate Fochtman, founder of The FreeMind Group, a strategic advisory firm serving adult beverage brands since 2008.Follow Ready To Drink Podcast: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | ReadyToDrinkPodcast.comSupport the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Send us Fan MailJay Ashton is the CEO and co-founder of Last Rep, an athletic recovery cocktail (ARC) built for the gym crowd, the run club, the jiu-jitsu mat and everywhere else people are moving their bodies and trying to do it right. Last Rep is not a get-high-in-a-can product. It is six calories, zero sugar, CBG, ashwagandha, L-theanine, electrolytes and a clean ingredient profile designed to let people recover the body, the mind and the social spirit all at once.Jay and I met at the AltBev Expo in Florida this year and I knew immediately this was a conversation the Ready To Drink Podcast needed to have. What we get into here goes way beyond the product.We talk about how Jay and his co-founder Steve Samson went from GPS technology and cybersecurity exits to building a THC beverage brand in under a year. We talk about why the fitness and wellness channel is the most underserved distribution lane in the alternative beverage space right now. We get into the real reason big beer opposes hemp regulation and why it has nothing to do with child safety. We talk about the dispensary model versus the liquor store model, who the actual consumer is and why the hemp beverage industry needs to stop bashing alcohol if it wants to win over the soccer mom with the Prosecco.I also go on record about what I told Congress in DC, what the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America just did and why the craft beer playbook is being run again right now on this industry word for word.Topics covered: functional drinks marketing, athletic recovery beverages, drink entrepreneurship, THC beverage brand building, functional drink brands, growth strategies for beverage startups, sales strategies in the fitness and wellness channel, mindful drinking, hemp industry regulation and the alternative beverage category.Check out LastRepARC.comConnect with Jay on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-ashton-/Instagram - @LastRepARC Facebook - Last RepTikTok - @LastRepARC   Host: Nate Fochtman, Founder of The FreeMind Group Follow Ready To Drink Podcast: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | ReadyToDrinkPodcast.comSupport the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Send us Fan MailLeigh Gall is the co-founder of Cannabis Beverage Certification and host of The Enlightened Buzz on YouTube, the leading education channel for THC beverages. She came up at Boston Beer, spent years in national accounts and distributor training, got sober, and then helped build the first professional certification program for hemp infusion in the beverage industry. This is her story.In this episode, Leigh and Nate break down why education is the single biggest gap in the hemp beverage category right now, what happens when an untrained retail rep sends a consumer home with the wrong product, and why the cannabis beverage certification model mirrors what Cicerone and Sommelier programs did for craft beer and wine. They also get into the honest conversation most people in this industry avoid: what it means to be a sober founder in the adult beverage world, why both of them left alcohol behind after careers built inside it, and what that actually looks like on the sales floor, at conferences and in distributor meetings.Leigh shares the story behind distributor partners Tryon, Badger Wholesalers and Opici Wine Group certifying entire sales forces, why Climbing Kites built education into their onboarding from day one and what the "Dylan on Aisle 7" framework means for the long-term trajectory of the functional drinks market.They also cover the three-tier distribution argument for HB2309 in Pennsylvania, why the same system that governs beer can and should govern hemp beverages and what drink entrepreneurship looks like when you are building a category that did not exist three years ago.Topics covered:Cannabis beverage certification and the Cicerone comparisonHemp infusion education for distributors and retailersWhy alcohol sales are declining across beer, wine and spiritsGLP-1 drugs, the Bud Light effect and portfolio diversificationSober founders in the adult beverage pairing spaceBuilding a two-hour course that pays for itself in the first weekTryon Distributing, Badger Wholesalers and Opici Wine Group as case studiesVisionary entrepreneurship and being comfortable being misunderstoodHB2309, the three-tier system and the regulation argument for hempFunctional drinks trends and the consumer education gapConnect with LeighLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/leighgallCannabis Beverage Certification: cannabevcertification.com The Enlightened Buzz on YouTube: youtube.com/@enlightenedbuzz Host: Nate Fochtman | The FreeMind Group Ready To Drink Podcast drops new episodes weekly. Subscribe, leave a review and share this with a distributor rep or retailer that needs to hear it.Pennsylvania breweries, distributors and retailers: get behind House Bill 2309. Learn more at iwantmythc.comSupport the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Send us Fan MailPerformance coach, Cannabis Beverage Certified co-founder,and Women in Hemp co-leader Leigh Gall joins Ready To Drink Podcast host Nate Fochtman to talk about what actually keeps founders moving in a market this hard to build in. Passion. Intention. Conviction. Leigh's work sits at the intersection of behavioral science, Traumatic Intelligence, and beverage industry leadership. This clip is the reason people share episodes. Follow Ready To Drink Podcast: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | ReadyToDrinkPodcast.comSupport the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Send us Fan MailMike Waskewich spent 23 years in the Army, retired as a Sergeant Major and then built two things the adult beverage industry didn't know it needed: The Bar Book, a Spotify-style flavor matching app for spirits, beer, cocktails, NA and THC beverages and CRAFT, a nonprofit coalition connecting veteran-owned beverage brands with buyers, distributors and content creators across the country.In this episode of Ready To Drink Podcast, Nate and Mike cover the full adult beverage ecosystem, from why category beats brand every time at point of sale to how CRAFT is building a nationwide event infrastructure that lets small brands compete without corporate budgets. They get into the Bar Book's flavor-match algorithm, the direct-to-consumer build-out, and why education drives 90% of sales in this industry. They also go deep on sobriety, on-premise culture, veteran identity in business and the difference between supporting veterans and actually being one.This one covers a lot of ground: mindful drinking, functional drinks trends, hemp industry advocacy, beverage entrepreneurship and the kind of human connection that no marketing deck can replicate.The Bar Book: TheBarBook.App (available in all app stores) CRAFT: SupportCraft.org Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mike-waskewichHosted by Nate Fochtman, founder of The FreeMind Group | FMGStrategy.com Follow Ready To Drink Podcast: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | ReadyToDrinkPodcast.comSupport the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Send us Fan MailThe drink doesn't make the memory. The moment does.Retired U.S. Army Sergeant Major and The Bar Book co-founder Mike Waskewich Jr drops something worth sitting with in our upcoming episode - your favorite beverage isn't about what's in the glass. It's about who's around it.Full episode dropping soon.Check out TheBarBook.app & SupportCraft.org (A national 501(c)(3) advancing veteran and first responder employment, entrepreneurship, and long-term brand growth across the adult beverage ecosystem - from production to distribution to on-premise operations.)Find more founder stories at ReadyToDrinkPodcast.com + YouTube + Spotify + Apple PodcastsSupport the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Send us Fan MailChris Fontes, founder of High Spirits, breaks down why the hemp beverage space is still a team sport and why operators who treat it like a competition are hurting everyone, including themselves.Right now the category is still fighting to survive. That changes everything about how you have to show up.Ready To Drink | B2B media for the adult beverage industryCheck out DrinkHighSpirits.com.Find more founder stories at ReadyToDrinkPodcast.com + YouTube + Spotify + Apple PodcastsSupport the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Send us Fan MailThe 2008 housing crash didn't end JR Heaps' career - it started one.JR was doing historic restoration and timber frame design-build work when his boss pulled him aside and basically said: the projects are drying up, you might want to chase that beer thing.So he did.He built his own version of the Brutus 10 homebrew system - pumps, temperature controllers, a 10-gallon setup he'd been dialing in for years. Then he went hunting for affordable commercial equipment and found four Grundy tanks from an old pub in Virginia, originally imported from England. Cut two of them apart to build his own mash tun and kettle. Welded the whole thing together himself.That Frankenstein brewhouse? It's still making beer today - Kyle Neuheimer at Oakbrook Brewing in Reading, PA picked it up and it's still running. That's not just a cool origin story. That's a testament to what happens when a builder puts his hands on a problem.JR Heaps is the founder of South County Brewery in Pennsylvania.Ready To Drink | B2B media for the adult beverage industryCheck out SouthCountyBrewing.comFind more founder stories at ReadyToDrinkPodcast.com + YouTube + Spotify + Apple PodcastsSupport the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of the Ready To Drink Podcast, Nate Fochtman sits down with Kristin and Eric Rogers, the husband-and-wife founders who built, sold, and recently bought back their cannabis beverage empire, LEVIA. Transitioning from careers as "recovering marketers" for massive blue-chip brands like AT&T and Home Depot, the duo discusses the grit required to move from a kitchen-top concept in 2017 to a facility-based powerhouse.The conversation dives deep into the "Retail Reality" of the beverage industry, including:The Founder's Buyback: The strategic decision to reclaim their brand two weeks ago and return to independent roots.Effects-Based Branding: Breaking down the science behind Achieve, Celebrate, and Dream to simplify the consumer experience.Parenting & Prohibition: A candid look at normalizing plant medicine at home while maintaining strict 21+ boundaries and label transparency.The Regulatory Landscape: Why federal banking, trademark protections, and state-level bills, like the upcoming Pennsylvania Hemp Beverage Bill, are critical for institutional readiness.Check out LEVIA.BuzzMore stories at ReadyToDrinkPodcast.com + YouTube + Spotify + Apple PodcastsSupport the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Send us Fan MailIn this Quick Sips from tomorrow's episode of the Ready To Drink Podcast, LEVIA co-founders Eric and Kristin Rogers share the incredible "boomerang" story of their brand.From spotting a gap in the market for zero-sugar, zero-calorie cannabis seltzers in 2017 to a major acquisition by Ayr Wellness and their recent move to buy the brand back - this is a masterclass in brand building and persistence.Check out LEVIA.BuzzMore stories at ReadyToDrinkPodcast.com + YouTube + Spotify + Apple PodcastsSupport the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Send us Fan MailPete Olander, founder of Happie Beverages, sits down to discuss the massive gap between what the people want and what politicians are doing. With an 84% approval rating for THC beverages among adults, the data is clear - the "cannabis-curious" market is becoming the mainstream market.Pete breaks down why he’s staying the course despite the political noise and why the future of drinkable hemp is brighter than ever.Check out Happie Beverages: DrinkHappie.comMore stories at ReadyToDrinkPodcast.com + YouTube + Spotify + Apple PodcastsSupport the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Send us Fan MailIt’s not just about what’s in the glass, it’s about how you feel the next morning.Dylan & Brandon, Co-founders of Goodmellow sits down with the Ready To Drink Podcast to discuss the evolving culture of hemp beverages. From coffee shops to late-night hangouts, the experience of social drinking is changing. It’s no longer about "large doses" of alcohol; it’s about intentional ingredients that let you stay social without sacrificing your next day.Connect with Brandon & Dylan at Goodmellow.comMore stories at ReadyToDrinkPodcast.com + YouTube + Spotify + Apple PodcastsSupport the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of the Ready To Drink Podcast, Nate sits down with Jack Peat, the entrepreneurial force behind Abstrax Tech and Abstrax Hops.Jack shares his journey from selling weed at 15 to running a massive swimming pool automation business (including a wild story about a billionaire at the Ritz Carlton) and finally co-founding one of the most advanced terpene and flavor extraction companies in the world.What you’ll learn in this episode:2D Gas Chromatography: How "flying a helicopter" over chemical peaks helps Abstrax discover hundreds of hidden aroma compounds.The Thiol Secret: Why sulfur compounds are the "ethereal" key to that fresh OG Kush scent.Brewing Revolution: How Quantum extracts can 5x flavor aroma while increasing beer yield by 30%.The Future of Hemp Drinks: Why the "hemp taste" is so hard to mask and how TTB-approved cannabis terpenes are changing the game.Navigating 2026: Jack’s take on the current regulatory landscape for hemp-derived beverages.Connect with Jack & Abstrax Tech at AbstraxTech.com & AbstraxHops.com More stories at ReadyToDrinkPodcast.com + YouTube + Spotify + Apple PodcastsSupport the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Send us Fan Mail"Holy Hell."That was the reaction when Jack Peat, founder of Abstrax Tech dropped the numbers on our latest clip. Imagine turning 500 lbs of hop pellets into 2,500 lbs of aroma equivalent while simultaneously increasing your beer yield by 30%.Less biomass means less beer soaked up in the tank + much more shelf stability.Catch the full episode of the Ready To Drink Podcast tomorrow to see how Quantum extracts are changing the game for brewers everywhere.Check out AbstraxTech.comMore stories at ReadyToDrinkPodcast.com + YouTube + Spotify + Apple PodcastsSupport the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Send us Fan MailCo-founder Josh Crozier shares the story behind the naming of Appalachian Girls Cannabis Co, how it represents the spirit of Southeastern Ohio and the female cannabis plant.It is about more than just a label, it is about representing a region historically exploited for its natural and human resources, while honoring the female cannabis plant that produces the intoxicating buds.Based in the heart of Southeastern Ohio and grown with Hocking Hills spring water, this brand is built on purity and Appalachian pride.Check out AppGirlsCannabis.comMore stories at ReadyToDrinkPodcast.com + YouTube + Spotify + Apple PodcastsSupport the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Send us Fan MailPR has a PR problem.It is something we are all trying to figure out right now: what is the right angle and what can we actually do to stand out? But the truth is, consumers are questioning transparency and authority more than ever. They see right through the kitschy skits and superficial campaigns.Those of us who have been in this career have a real opportunity to get the stories of the humans out there.This is the year founders need to focus on sharing true, emotional, collective narratives. We still need to talk about our products, but we all must bring the human story back to everything we do so that we can authentically connect with consumers and build lasting trust.How is your brand bringing the human story to the forefront this year?More stories at ReadyToDrinkPodcast.com + YouTube + Spotify + Apple PodcastsSupport the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Send us Fan MailOver 32 million Americans walk into a grocery store every single day. Half of the U.S. population conducts a transaction at a convenience store on a daily basis.If we want to build a sustainable, normalized hemp and cannabis industry, this is exactly where these products need to live.Fifteen years ago, I was running craft beer development for a wholesaler, the industry loved to villainize approachable brands like Blue Moon and Goose Island. I was the guy on the island defending them. Why? Because they were the entry point to the journey.If someone asked me about craft beer, the first drink I handed them was a Blue Moon. They would say, "Okay, I can do this." Then the second drink could be a little more obscure, and the journey naturally progressed toward your Surleys and Revolution IPAs.You cannot go to step seven without going to step one.Right now, parts of the cannabis industry are fighting to lock all THC products behind dispensary doors. But if you cold-plunge a new, sober-curious consumer straight into a high-potency product or a heavily regulated dispensary environment on their first jump, you turn them off. When you don't allow that consumer journey to flow correctly, they are gone from the entire industry.Hemp-derived THC beverages are our Blue Moon. They are the approachable, low-dose, commoditized entry point.To introduce the mainstream consumer to this space, we need these beverages sitting in age-gated, easy-access retail venues - grocery stores, convenience stores, and bottle shops. That is how you build the journey. That is how you grow the entire pie.Education. Regulation. Normalization.Support the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of the Ready To Drink Podcast, Nate Fochtman sits down with Adam Peabody, co-founder of Reddi Beverage and Flora. Like always, there was no script, no prep and no agenda - just two humans with deep roots in the hospitality and adult beverage industries having a completely organic conversation about the reality of the hemp THC beverage space.Adam went from wrestling guys at the door of a Chicago club to running high-end hotel beverage programs and now he operates an 11,000-square-foot manufacturing facility dedicated to non-alcoholic THC-infused spirits and mocktails. We get into the grit of building a CPG brand from scratch, the early days of hand-dipping wax seals on bottles in an apartment and why Flora formulates their drinks from a liquid-first, bartender's perspective rather than just chasing the seltzer trend.But the real meat of this episode is the controversial truth that a lot of people in the cannabis industry do not want to hear: intoxicating hemp beverages do not belong in the dispensary channel. If we want to truly normalize THC and build a sustainable industry, we have to meet the consumer where they are and that is in America's bars, restaurants and traditional retail stores. Beverage is the ultimate entry point and putting it behind the double-locked doors of a dispensary only hurts the movement.This is real talk about the future of adult beverages, the 2018 Farm Bill and how we normalize and scale this category the right way.Check out Adam and the incredible liquids his team is producing at drinkflora.com and reddibeverage.com. You can also connect with him directly on LinkedIn.As always, look people in the eye as you walk down the street, say hello to a stranger and hold the door for somebody. Put some real positivity out into this crazy world. Subscribe to the channel so you never miss an episode.Connect with Adam Peabody: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-peabody/Website: DrinkFlora.com + ReddiBeverage.comConnect with Nate Fochtman: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natefochtman/Website: FMGStrategy.com + ReadyToDrinkPodcast.com + TheLeadersArenaPodcast.comSupport the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Send us Fan MailThe hemp-derived THC market is moving fast, but who is actually building the infrastructure to sustain it?In this episode of the Ready To Drink Podcast, Nate sits down with Thomas Winstanley, EVP & General Manager of Edibles.com. Thomas shares his journey from the regulated cannabis market into the hemp space, explaining why hemp is the ultimate "Trojan horse" for mainstream consumer accessibility.We cut through the noise and talk about the real business of THC: why older demographics are driving growth, the reality of the dispensary vs. liquor store distribution models, and why the future of the category relies on functional wellness outcomes - not just "getting high."Understanding traditional distribution models is key to integrating hemp beverages into the mainstream market, a major topic in today's episode.What we cover in this episode:- The launch and strategy behind Edibles.com as a trusted, curated marketplace.- Why the "Nancy Reagan era" demographic is the fastest-growing consumer base for hemp products.- The critical differences between regulated cannabis & hemp and why putting low-dose beverages in dispensaries hurts everyone's bottom line.- The fight for smart state and federal legislation (including the Pennsylvania hemp beverage bill).- Why the future of THC regulation needs to look more like the traditional alcohol Three Tier Distribution System.Connect with Thomas Winstanley:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-winstanley/Website: https://edibles.com/Connect with Nate Fochtman: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natefochtman/Website: FMGStrategy.com + ReadyToDrinkPodcast.com + TheLeadersArenaPodcast.comSupport the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Send us Fan MailThe hemp-derived THC market is moving fast, but who is actually building the infrastructure to sustain it?In this episode of the Ready To Drink Podcast, Nate sits down with Thomas Winstanley, EVP & General Manager of Edibles.com. Thomas shares his journey from the regulated cannabis market into the hemp space, explaining why hemp is the ultimate "Trojan horse" for mainstream consumer accessibility.We cut through the noise and talk about the real business of THC: why older demographics are driving growth, the reality of the dispensary vs. liquor store distribution models and why the future of the category relies on functional wellness outcomes... not just "getting high."Understanding traditional distribution models is key to integrating hemp beverages into the mainstream market, a major topic in today's episode.What we cover in this episode:The launch and strategy behind Edibles.com as a trusted, curated marketplace.Why the "Nancy Reagan era" demographic is the fastest-growing consumer base for hemp products.The critical differences between regulated cannabis and hemp, and why putting low-dose beverages in dispensaries hurts everyone's bottom line.The fight for smart state and federal legislation (including the Pennsylvania hemp beverage bill).Why the future of THC regulation needs to look more like the traditional alcohol Three Tier System.Listen to the Ready To Drink Podcast | Subscribe on Spotify & Apple PodcastsWatch the Ready To Drink Podcast | Subscribe to The FreeMind Group on YouTubeConnect with Thomas Winstanley: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-winstanley/Website: Edibles.comConnect with Nate Fochtman: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natefochtman/Website: FMGStrategy.com + ReadyToDrinkPodcast.com + TheLeadersArenaPodcast.comSupport the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Send us Fan MailI failed at getting sober. A lot.We always tell people, "Don't be afraid to fail," but we rarely talk about what failure actually looks like in practice. On a recent episode of The Leaders' Arena Podcast, I sat down with someone who has seen my failures and successes firsthand: Coach Rick Hendrickson.I’ve known Coach since I was seven years old in Berkeley Springs, WV. He was my high school wrestling coach, later my boss for many years and ultimately, family.During this episode, we talked about my journey to hitting three years of sobriety. The reality is, getting to this point required a massive amount of "shedding." Shedding old mindsets, old habits and sometimes, shedding people. Not to place blame, I own my decisions, but because resetting your life requires absolute accountability.It also required doing the hard, uncomfortable work. After going through five different therapists, I finally found one who was a recovering alcoholic. We did immersion therapy. I would go sit at a bar, order a beer, stare at it and actively force myself to confront every negative thing it had caused in my life.It rewired my brain so completely that recently, when I had to taste a single drop of a cocktail recipe for a client, my brain registered it as rubbing alcohol.Sobriety isn't just about stopping. It's about completely clicking your mind into a different place.I am incredibly grateful to Coach for being a mentor through the years of false starts, so I could finally get to the finish line.Listen to the Ready To Drink Podcast | Subscribe on Spotify & Apple PodcastsWatch the Ready To Drink Podcast | Subscribe to The FreeMind Group on YouTubeSupport the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Send us Fan MailIs the Bourbon industry actually afraid of hemp drinks?Chris Fontes, founder of DrinkHighSpirits.com, joins Nate Fochtman on the Ready To Drink Podcast to dismantle the myth that "fizzy hemp water" is stealing bourbon’s lunch.The truth? Bourbon drinkers are loyalists. They aren’t swapping a $400 bottle of whiskey for sparkling hemp water. According to Chris, the decline in alcohol consumption isn't about competition - it’s about health, aging and the simple fact that "it hurts to drink" as we get older.Watch the full unscripted breakdown of the hemp beverage revolution.Listen to the Ready To Drink Podcast | Subscribe on Spotify & Apple PodcastsWatch the Ready To Drink Podcast | Subscribe to The FreeMind Group on YouTubeSupport the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Send us Fan Mail"I don't know what the hell I'm doing... but I made the drink I wanted to drink."Shannon Urban-Denise, co-founder of ROAM, explains why her family-owned hemp beverage company is ditching chemicals and artificial sugars for real Italian purees and craft-brewed quality.With under 90 calories, ROAM is proving that "Clean Label" and "High Potency" can live in the same can. Plus, hear why she views batch-to-batch color variation as a badge of honor for using real fruit.Check out RoamDrink.comWatch the full unscripted story on Ready To Drink Podcast available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts & Wherever You Podcast.Support the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Send us Fan MailWhy cannabis beverage founders are BEGGING to be regulatedAre hemp and cannabis beverage companies just a bunch of 'Wild West' bad actors? Gordon Whelpley, co-founder of Float House CAN-NA-BREWS, sits down with Nate Fochtman on the Ready To Drink Podcast to clear the air.The truth? The barrier to entry for physical beverages is astronomically high, which naturally weeds out the folks looking for a quick cash grab. The legitimate industry is actively begging for regulation, taxation and clear GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) guidelines.Check out FloatHouse.coWatch the full unscripted conversation for a deep dive into the realities of running a Cann-A-Brew business at ReadyToDrinkPodcast.com, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts & Wherever You PodcastSupport the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Send us Fan MailAre you looking for a better way to unwind at 5 PM without the hangover?Join us as Anna shares her journey from climbing the corporate ladder to taking a leap into the rapidly growing hemp beverage space.  We dive deep into the philosophy behind Hightail: a premium, low-dose (1.5mg THC / 3mg CBG) adult beverage designed for the "sandwich generation" who want to remain present and engaged, rather than checking out.Check out siphightail.comFull Story at ReadyToDrinkPodcast.com, Spotify, Apple Podcasts & Wherever You PodcastSupport the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Send us Fan MailAre you looking for a better way to unwind at 5 PM without the hangover?In this unscripted episode of the Ready To Drink Podcast, host Nate Fochtman sits down with Anna Baskin, the CEO and Founder of hightail. After experiencing severe corporate burnout working 69-hour weeks in private equity and retail consulting, Anna realized that traditional alcohol was no longer serving her - especially as a busy mom looking for a clean, relaxing reset.Join us as Anna shares her journey from climbing the corporate ladder to taking a leap into the rapidly growing hemp beverage space. We dive deep into the philosophy behind Hightail: a premium, low-dose (1.5mg THC / 3mg CBG) adult beverage designed for the "sandwich generation" who want to remain present and engaged, rather than checking out.Episode Highlights:The Pivot from Corporate: How leaving high-pressure roles at Deloitte, Walgreens, and Blackstone fueled Anna's desire to create a wellness-focused brand.Redefining the Recipe: Breaking down hightail’s complex, wine-like flavor profiles (like the unique Cocoa Pomegranate Yuzu) and why they intentionally chose low carbonation and premium, all-natural ingredients.Packaging Psychology: Why Hightail went with a minimalist, 1920s Art Deco can design to stand out from the bright, chaotic aesthetics of traditional cannabis packaging.New Innovations: The launch of hightail Halo, a non-cannabinoid functional beverage packed with L-theanine and B12 for daytime focus and energy.The Future of the Industry: A candid discussion on the need for thoughtful FDA regulation, breaking the stigma around hemp-derived THC beverages and why this beverage boom mirrors the early days of craft beer.Tune in for an organic, genuine conversation about navigating entrepreneurship, building thick skin and redefining how we socialize and relax!Check out siphightail.comMore stories at ReadyToDrinkPodcast.comSupport the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Send us Fan MailJared Langston, Founder of Good Liar NA Beer, explains why moving fast and breaking things is always better than waiting for perfection. If you wait six months to figure out how to perfectly open a door, you are already behind. In the early stages of building a brand, no one knows who you are, which makes it the absolute best time to fail quick, iterate your product, and find your voice. The worst thing you can do in business is sit still and not make a decision.Check out GoodLiar.comFull Story at ReadyToDrinkPodcast.com, YouTube, Spotify, Apple & Wherever You Podcast.Support the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Send us Fan MailSteve Groff, founder of Cedar Meadow Farm and pioneer of regenerative agriculture, discusses the inevitable shift in global farming practices. In this clip from the Ready To Drink Podcast, Groff compares the transition away from synthetic chemicals in soil to the worlds transition away from fossil fuels. He argues that while change takes time, farmers who refuse to adapt to regenerative methods risk becoming obsolete in the next 20 years.Watch the full interview for deep insights into soil health, cover crops, and the future of the American food system.Check out SteveGroff.comMore stories at ReadyToDrinkPodcast.comSupport the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Send us Fan MailWhat does it look like to build a real cannabis beverage company while the rules keep changing?In this episode, Nate Fochtman sits down with the Appalachian Girls Cannabis co-founders (Joey Ellwood, Amy Garland & Josh Crosier) for a founder-to-founder conversation about what it takes to scale a THC drink brand in Ohio from the ground up.We talk about the early days selling smokable hemp flower, the pivot into beverages, and how they went from zero drink accounts to 300+ retail doors in a year - largely through self-distribution, hustle, and learning in real time.This isn’t a hype conversation. It’s the operator reality: compliance pressure, distribution friction, DTC pivots, dose strategy (5mg, 10mg, 25mg, 50mg), and why “Appalachian Girls” is more intentional than people assume.If you’re building in hemp, cannabis, or adult beverage - this is a masterclass in staying steady when the market refuses to be.Episode Highlights:Why they built a true portfolio (not just flavor extensions)How the team formed and what each founder brings to the tableThe pivot from flower to beverages and what changed everythingScaling through self-distribution and building retail relationshipsHow regulatory uncertainty impacts banks, insurance, and growth plansWhy dosage variety matters for bars, restaurants, and everyday consumersThe DTC shift and what it takes to execute fast under pressureWhy they’re focused on the Appalachian region as a “blue ocean” strategyFind Appalachian Girls Cannabis: AppGirlsCannabis.comSocial: @AppGirlsCannabisSubscribe for more founder stories from the front lines of adult beverage, hemp, and emerging categories.Support the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Send us Fan MailWhat if the future of health starts in the soil?In this episode of Ready To Drink, Nate Fochtman sits down with Steve Groff, CEO of Cedar Meadow Farm in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, a third-generation farmer who started no-till in 1982 and never looked back. Steve breaks down regenerative agriculture in plain language, why “mimic nature” is more than a buzzword and how practices like no-till, cover crops and biodiversity change water infiltration, resilience and nutrient density.Then we go deeper into hemp: why hemp fiber is a “hand in a glove” fit for regenerative systems, how broken contracts and regulatory uncertainty have put the industry in a holding pattern, and why building the processing + equipment ecosystem is the real bottleneck (not farmer interest). Steve also shares a Penn State / Hershey Medical Center research story on cannabinoid profiles and how growing conditions may influence outcomes.If you care about food, farming, hemp, health, and what it takes to build long-term in a short-term world, this is the episode.Topics covered: - The 1982 shift: why Steve stopped tilling and what changed over time - Soil biology, the “micro herd,” and what it means for food quality - Water infiltration, extreme weather, and resilience vs efficiency - Hemp fiber economics: processing gaps, equipment reality, and scale - Why the industry is stuck in “pause mode” and what unlocks investment - Regenerative certification vs greenwashing - Thinking generationally in a quarterly cultureSteve Groff: SteveGroff.comNate Fochtman: FMGStrategy.comReady To Drink Podcast is produced and distributed by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.comSupport the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of the Ready To Drink Podcast, Nate Fochtman sits down with Shannon Urban-Denise, Founder & CEO of ROAM THC Beverages, for a raw, unfiltered conversation about sobriety, anxiety, entrepreneurship, and the future of hemp-derived beverages.Shannon shares her journey from corporate healthcare and “mom wine” culture to rehab, five years of sobriety and eventually discovering hemp-derived THC beverages as a different path forward. What started as personal survival turned into ROAM - a craft-brewed, small-batch THC beverage brand focused on real ingredients, social responsibility, and reasonable regulation.This episode goes beyond product talk. It dives into:• Alcohol culture and recovery• Anxiety and presence vs. escape• Building a THC beverage brand from scratch• Distribution challenges in Pennsylvania & New Jersey• The fight for hemp beverage legislation• Why social responsibility matters in emerging categoriesNo scripts. No talking points. Just two Drexel grads who accidentally discovered they overlapped in college - now building in a category reshaping the adult beverage industry.If you’re a founder, operator, distributor, policymaker, or someone questioning your relationship with alcohol - this conversation is for you.Learn more about Roam: ROAMDrink.comSubscribe for more founder-level conversations in alcohol, functional, and hemp beverages.The episode is brought to you by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.comSupport the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of the Ready To Drink Podcast, Nate Fochtman sits down with Brandon and Dylan, co-founders of Goodmellow, to break down what it actually takes to build a hemp-derived THC beverage company in today’s fragmented regulatory and distribution environment.This is not a conversation about chasing trends. It is a grounded discussion on operational reality, disciplined growth, retailer relationships, and why the next phase of the hemp beverage category will be decided by execution, not excitement.Brandon and Dylan share how they approached formulation, positioning, and route-to-market with a long-term lens, why brand credibility is earned at the store level, and how founders must think differently when building in a federally undefined but rapidly commercializing space.We discuss:- Why THC beverages must behave like a real beverage business, not a novelty product- The importance of retailer trust and repeat purchase behavior- Building a brand without relying on inflated category narratives- Distribution sequencing and market-by-market discipline- Regulatory uncertainty and what operators should be doing right now to prepare- How Goodmellow is navigating growth while protecting brand integrityThe hemp beverage sector is entering a phase where fundamentals matter more than headlines. The founders who understand supply chain, velocity, and accountability will shape what this category becomes.If you are a beverage operator, distributor, retailer, or investor trying to understand where this space is going, this is a conversation worth paying attention to.Subscribe for more founder-level conversations with the people actually building the modern beverage landscape across alcohol, functional, and hemp-derived categories.Support the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of the Ready To Drink Podcast, Nate Fochtman sits down with Chris Fontes, Founder & CEO of High Spirits, for an unfiltered conversation about what it really takes to build a hemp-derived THC beverage company in today’s uncertain regulatory landscape.Chris shares how High Spirits bootstrapped its way to profitability, why staying lean beats chasing venture capital in this category, and what operators must do right now to protect the future of the industry.This is not a marketing conversation. It is a founder-level discussion about grit, advocacy, distribution realities, and the short window the hemp beverage sector has to legitimize itself through responsible regulation and industry alignment.Topics Covered:- Why THC beverages are reshaping adult beverage consumption- Bootstrapping vs. raising capital in emerging categories- Retail-first strategy and scaling without heavy overhead- The fight for clear legislation and why operators must engage now- Trade associations, certification, and self-regulation as survival tools- Lessons from alcohol industry evolution applied to hemp beverages- Parenting, stigma, and normalization of cannabis in modern culture- What separates brands that will survive from those that will disappearChris also discusses his leadership roles across major hemp and cannabis trade organizations and explains why certification, compliance, and collaboration are essential to the industry's credibility.If you are a beverage founder, distributor, regulator, or investor watching the convergence of alcohol alternatives and cannabis normalization, this episode delivers real-world insight from operators doing the work on the ground.Learn more about Chris & High Spirits: DrinkHighSpirits.comLearn more about U.S. Hemp Authority: https://www.ushempauthority.orgLearn more Nate & The FreeMind Group: FMGStrategy.comSubscribe for more conversations with founders building the future of adult beverages.Support the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Ready To Drink Podcast, Nate Fochtman sits down with Jared Langston, founder of Good Liar Non-Alcoholic Beer and parent company DRY Dept, for a no-script, no-agenda conversation about what it really takes to build a brand in the modern beverage market.Jared breaks down how Good Liar went from concept to real traction - launching in January 2024, proving viability in 2025 and becoming one of the highest-velocity NA six-packs in Ohio. We get into why liquid quality is the entire game in non-alcoholic beer, how Jared tested multiple brewing technologies before landing with a world-class brewing partner and why staying focused on one SKU + one state can beat “go wide” growth.We also talk brand-building from the inside out: naming, trademarking, packaging decisions, retail clarity, and why you can’t be precious early - fail fast, learn faster and keep moving.If you’re building in non-alc, adult beverage or any consumer brand where the shelf is brutal and attention is expensive, this episode is a masterclass in staying grounded, reading data and creating super fans.Guest: Jared Langston - Founder, Good Liar NA Beer / DRY Dept - GoodLiar.com Host: Nate Fochtman - The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.comSubscribe for more founder stories across beer, NA, RTD, and emerging beverage categories and check out ReadyToDrinkPodcast.comSupport the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Send us Fan MailNo script. No prompts. Just a real conversation with Josh Furbish, President and Founder of Ground Game Inc., about what actually moves product in retail and why most brands confuse distribution with success.Josh rebuilt his network after an eight-year digital detox, turned years of bottle shop notes into a playbook, and launched Ground Game in 2025. We get into the unglamorous truth founders need to hear: doors don’t matter if you don’t earn reorders. Shelf space isn’t a win if you can’t drive sell-through. And the frontline staff you ignore is the sales force you’re missing.We also talk candidly about operating through uncertainty in Minneapolis, how disruption hits mom-and-pop retailers first, and why empathy isn’t a “nice to have” in CPG - it’s survival.Then we pivot into why Minnesota became the case study state for hemp-derived THC beverages, what other states (including Pennsylvania) can learn about regulation, dosage, and on-premise viability, and why transparency in this category is miles ahead of what most consumers realize.If you’re a founder, operator, distributor, or service provider trying to build something real in beverage, this episode is a masterclass in how the game actually works.Guest: Josh Furbish, Ground Game Inc.Website: groundgameinc.comHost: Nate Fochtman, The FreeMind GroupWebsite: FMGStrategy.comSupport the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Send us Fan MailMost supplements don’t work the way people think they do.In this episode of the Ready To Drink Podcast, I sit down with Dan Margenau, founder of Lix Brands, to unpack one of the most overlooked problems in health, wellness, and functional beverages: bioavailability.Dan built Lix to solve a simple but massive issue - our bodies can’t absorb most of what traditional supplements deliver. Through a patented encapsulation process, Lix transforms hard-to-absorb ingredients into water-soluble, highly bioavailable compounds that integrate cleanly into beverages, supplements, cosmetics, and hemp-derived products.We cover:What bioavailability actually means (and why most products waste nutrients)How Lix’s encapsulation technology worksWhy water solubility changes everything for manufacturers and consumersClean label formulation and production efficiencyThe impact on CBD and THC beverage onset timesDan’s journey from operations consulting to building a deep-tech ingredient companyThis conversation is part science, part entrepreneurship, and part real-world manufacturing insight - for anyone building in supplements, functional beverages, hemp, or wellness.Check out LixIngredients.comListen on all podcast platforms.Watch on ReadyToDrinkPodcast.comSupport the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of the Ready To Drink Podcast, Nate Fochtman sits down with Gordon Whelpley, Co-Founder of Float House CAN-NA-BREWS, to break down what it actually takes to build a compliant, scalable THC-infused beverage that doesn’t fit neatly into existing categories.CAN-NA-BREWS was designed to drink like beer without being classified as a malt beverage, creating a new lane inside the hemp beverage market that requires precise formulation, intentional process design, and a deep understanding of regulatory structure.This conversation focuses on:how CAN-NA-BREWS avoids the malt beverage definition while maintaining flavor and structurethe manufacturing and formulation challenges of non-alcoholic, cannabinoid-infused beverageswhy low-dose THC beverages align with alcohol-style regulation modelsthe operational reality of building production infrastructure while co-packing for other brandswhy enforcement and smart regulation matter more than reactionary banswhat category creation actually looks like when there’s no existing playbookThis episode is a clear, technical, and practical look at how hemp THC beverages are built, regulated, and scaled - without hype and without shortcuts.Available now on: ReadyToDrinkPodcast.com, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you podcast.Support the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Send us Fan MailOpening a craft brewery in 2025 takes more than good beer - it takes clarity, discipline, and real strategy.In this episode of the Ready To Drink Podcast, Nate Fochtman sits down with Kyle Underkoffler, co-founder of Berg Brewing Company in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, to break down what it actually takes to build a brewery from scratch in today’s crowded beer market.This conversation covers:How Berg Brewing transformed a historic building into a working breweryWhy European beer styles, simplicity, and quality still matterThe realities of running a small brewery and wearing every hatBuilding a business with family and maintaining trustWhy founders need a clear vision before spending their first dollarHow hospitality, leadership, and culture impact long-term successThis episode is built for craft brewers, beverage founders, and operators who want to understand the business behind the beer - not just the branding.Subscribe to Ready To Drink for honest conversations with the people building the beverage industry from the inside.Support the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of the Ready To Drink Podcast, I sit down on site in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania with Yianni Barakos, Founder of Mason Dixon Distillery - for a raw, unscripted conversation about heritage, resilience, and what it really means to build something that lasts.Yianni shares the deep roots behind Mason Dixon Distillery, tracing his family’s Greek immigrant story, the culture of hospitality that shaped his upbringing, and the work ethic passed down through generations. We talk about learning how to build a still at age 11, growing up in and around his father’s diner, and how those early lessons in community, craftsmanship, and generosity became the foundation of his business today.This conversation goes far beyond spirits. We get into:- Why hospitality is about presence, not just product- The difference between serving drinks and creating experiences- Overcoming physical adversity and building a business with intention- The role of community in sustaining independent businesses- Raising the next generation with values of competence, confidence, and capabilityMason Dixon Distillery isn’t just a distillery - it’s a living example of how culture, family, and purpose can be poured into every glass.This episode was filmed cold - no prep, no script - just a real conversation about building something meaningful.Recorded on location at Mason Dixon Distillery, Gettysburg, PALearn more at FindMasonDixon.comSubscribe for more founder stories from the people shaping the future of Ready To Drink, hospitality, and independent craft.More Stories at ReadyToDrinkPodcast.comSupport the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Send us Fan MailJustin Hoak didn’t set out to build one of the most unique brewery models in Pennsylvania - but that’s exactly what Yah Brew has become. In this episode of the Ready To Drink Podcast, Justin breaks down how Yah Brew grew from selling crowlers at pop-ups to launching a full production facility, multiple taprooms, and a completely original 90s-themed brand experience that’s pulling people in for more than just beer.We talk about the real decisions behind expansion, how to avoid the traps that shut breweries down, why nostalgia still sells, and how a one-barrel basement system is feeding two taprooms while a turnkey production site comes online. Justin also opens up about the early days bartending, learning the craft, shaping a brand built on fun, culture, and details, and building revenue streams that actually make sense in today’s market.If you’re a founder, brewer, or anyone paying attention to where the industry is heading, this is a masterclass in strategic creativity and survival.Chapters include:– The origins of Yah Brew and the 90s theme– Expanding into Hershey and Middletown– Hoagie shop and food strategy– Contract brewing, collaborations, and industry decline– How to expand without sinking the ship– Game nights, community, and keeping people in the taproom– The new production facility and full co-op brewery modelMore Stories at ReadyToDrinkPodcast.comSupport the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Send us Fan MailMoon Flower Hemp isn’t just another hemp brand - it’s a family legacy built by three generations of Appalachian women, rooted in the moment the 2018 Farm Bill cracked the door open for innovation. In this episode, I sit down with co-founders Riley and Macie Queen to talk about their beginnings, “their father’s early vision”, and the moment their one-acre experiment turned into a vertically integrated craft cannabis business trusted across the country.We dig into why transparency matters, what it takes to control every step from soil to final product, and why “regulate don’t eliminate” isn’t just a tagline - it’s a call to protect an industry that has given people real alternatives, real relief, and real choices.We get into the politics, the infighting, and the bad actors hurting honest operators. And we talk about the blended regulatory model that can actually work - borrowing the best of commercial alcohol distribution and the tracking systems used in medical cannabis.We also talk about unity: between cannabis companies, between craft brewers, and between everyday Americans who are tired of watching their industries get reshaped by people who have never worked a day in them.Moon Flower Hemp’s West Virginia roots run deep, and their commitment to their community is impossible to miss. This is the kind of story our industry needs right now.Check out MoonFlowerHemp.com & ReadyToDrinkPodcast.comSupport the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Send us Fan MailOn this episode of Ready To Drink Podcast, I sit down with Pete Olander, founder of Happie Beverages, for one of the most candid and grounded conversations we’ve had on the show. Pete walks through the early spark that launched Happie, the years he spent in nutrition and regulated cannabis, and the unexpected realities of building a beverage company from scratch in an industry that shifts under your feet.We get into the origin story of both lines under the Happie umbrella - the THC beverages built on clean labels and tight compliance, and the functional mushroom line that’s now gaining national traction. Pete also talks openly about regulatory turbulence, why structure is an opportunity rather than a threat, and how founders can stay steady in moments that would shake most people out of the game.From California’s regulated market to national e-commerce, from formulation work to distribution partnerships, and from the entrepreneurial grind to the role of culture and family in shaping a brand - this is a deep look at what it really takes to build a company that lasts.If you’re a beverage founder, investor, retailer, or someone following the rise of functional and THC beverages, this is an important episode.New episodes of Ready To Drink Podcast roll out weekly, featuring the founders, makers, operators, and innovators shaping the future of beverages.Full Story on ReadyToDrinkPodcast.comSupport the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Send us Fan MailOn this episode of the Ready To Drink Podcast, host Nate Fochtman sits down with Paul Lemley, founder of Battlefield Brew Works in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania - one of the most unique brewery and distillery destinations in America.Paul shares how he transformed an abandoned barn on the historic East Cavalry Field into a thriving brewery and distillery nearly 30 years ago, long before the craft beer boom. From battling township regulations and limited utilities in the ‘90s to becoming Pennsylvania’s first dual-license brewery/distillery, Paul’s story is one of grit, innovation, and true American entrepreneurship.This is more than a business story - it’s a testament to resilience, craftsmanship, and community. Whether you’re a brewer, distiller, entrepreneur, or just someone who loves a good story over a cold drink, this episode will hit home.Watch, learn, and raise a glass to perseverance.Presented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.comSupport the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Ready To Drink Podcast, host Nate Fochtman sits down with JR Heaps, founder of South County Brewing, to unpack the 15-year journey from a 300-square-foot homebrew setup in Fawn Grove to a 30,000-square-foot destination brewery in York, Pennsylvania.JR shares how the 2008 housing crash pushed him to chase his brewing dream, the early days of welding tanks and hand-filling bombers, and how South County became a cornerstone of Central PA’s craft scene. From the hazy IPA boom to the rise of small-scale canning, this conversation dives deep into what it takes to survive and grow in one of the most competitive markets in America.Watch to hear JR’s take on craftsmanship, family, evolution, and what it really means to build something that lasts.Timestamps:00:00 – Introduction02:10 – The birth of South County Brewing06:45 – Brewing through the 2008 crash12:30 – The shift from bombers to cans18:15 – The haze craze and changing beer culture24:40 – Building a community hub in York, PA31:00 – Lessons from 15 years in the brewing industrySubscribe to the Ready To Drink Podcast for authentic founder stories from the frontlines of beverage and hospitality innovation.Support the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Send us Fan MailMeet Mike Podlogar and Peri Higgins, Co-Founders of More Love, a hemp-derived THC sparkling beverage based in Hatfield, PA. In this episode of the Ready To Drink Podcast with host Nate Fochtman, Mike and Peri share their journey from successful careers (including investment banking and co-packing) to creating a nationally available alcohol alternative.More Love is designed to be the ultimate social substitute for alcohol, offering great flavors like Sun Berry, Orange Tide, and Pineapple Colada, without the hangover.In this deep-dive, you'll learn:The Power of Federal Legality: How their hemp-derived THC product enables them to sell and ship Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) in up to 28 states, bypassing traditional, regional distribution bottlenecks.Building a Market from Scratch: The unique challenges and excitement of pioneering an entirely new "Wild West" distribution network in a control state like Pennsylvania.Product Philosophy: Why they focus on cocktail-inspired flavors and their vision of creating a "net positive" social beverage that raises the bar for the industry.Entrepreneurial Advice: Their non-negotiable tips for aspiring entrepreneurs entering the challenging beverage market.Whether you're curious about the future of social drinking or looking for inspiration on launching a consumer packaged goods (CPG) brand in a complex regulatory environment, this interview is a must-listen.Ready To Drink Podcast is hosted by Nate Fochtman, Founder of The FreeMind Group.Support the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Send us Fan MailCorey Wolfe's journey is a masterclass in turning long-term vision into reality. In this compelling interview on the Ready To Drink Podcast with host Nate Fochtman, Corey, the founder of Woof Bar in York, PA, dives deep into the decade-long evolution of his dream.Starting with zero connections and a server job, Corey leveraged public art projects (like the incredible, backwards window murals he developed to navigate city regulations), community volunteering, and fierce local networking to build the social equity that made his business possible. He shares the ingenious sourcing of everything from bar stools to 2,000 pieces of glassware—all donated by the community—making Woof Bar truly a "community bar."Discover:How Corey used creative problem-solving to launch the original York City 6 brewery collaboration and groundbreaking local art initiatives.The surprising origin of the name "Woof Bar" and his plans to be a dog-friendly local hub.Why his concept is built entirely on supporting Pennsylvania-made products, from spirits to beer.Corey's powerful advice on using social equity and collaboration to overcome the high cost of opening a business and achieving your biggest goals.This episode is packed with inspiration for anyone looking to make a lasting impact in their community and turn a long-held passion into a thriving business.Ready To Drink Podcast is hosted by Nate Fochtman, Founder of The FreeMind Group.Support the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com

Send us Fan MailStep back in time with us at Bube’s Brewery in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania, one of the most historic breweries in America. In this first episode of the Ready To Drink Podcast, we sit down with Sam Allen, owner and storyteller, who shares the fascinating 19th-century origins of the brewery, its role during Prohibition, the evolution of craft beer, and the living history preserved within its walls.Learn how taverns shaped America’s beer culture, why lagers were once seasonal, and how food became central to keeping this 1850s landmark alive.Plus, discover chilling ghost stories from the old hotel and catacombs, where paranormal investigators still explore to this day.From murder mystery dinners to Oktoberfest traditions, this episode blends history, beer, and unforgettable storytelling.If you love craft beer, brewery history, haunted places, and unique dining experiences, this episode is for you. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share to support the show!Support the showPresented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com